Reclining-chair.



A. J. PHILLIPS.

RECLINING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1919.

Patented Apr. 29,1919.

uuqufi I @511 ho! ANDREWJ. PHILHJES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 015 COLUMBIA.

RECLINING-CHAIR.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29 19159).

Application filed march a, 1919. Serial No, sweat.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, ANDREW J. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of .Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reclining-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in reclinin chairs and more particularly to that class 1n which the back is adjustable. The object of the invention is to provide a chair of this character which can be readily and quickly adjusted to varying positions without the necessity of the occupant leaving his seat. In its preferable embodiment, it consists of a chair having a reclining back normally impelled forward by a spring, and provided with devices, under manual control, whereby the occupant of the chair may, by releasing the holding mechanism with his hand, lean against the reclining back and thereby move it to any desired position,

Where it may be held by merely releasing the holding mechanism.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part hereof:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair made in accordance with my invention, parts being broken away to better show the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts shown in section.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by' numerals: 1 and 2 represent the sides of a chair, which may be made of any desired construction but which, as shown in the drawings, are provided with legs 3 and 4, and with arm pieces 5 and 6. The adjustable back is designated by the numeral 8 and is pivoted on the rod 10 so that the adjustable back may be moved from the vertical to a horizontal position, as will be readily understood. To the end of this rod 10 is secured a gear wheel 12 which meshes with a similar gear wheel 14. The gear wheel 14 is secured to a second rod 16 which is provided with a spring 18 normally tending to move the rod or shaft 16 in a direction anticlockwise, whereby the gear 12 and its shaft 10 will be moved clockwise and thus normally hold the adjustable back in its forward or vertical position. The spring 18 may be arranged in any desired manner, but I prefer to'inclose it within a casing 20, one

end of the spring being secured to the end of the casing and the other end of the spring to a collar 22 fixedto the rod or shaft 16.

It follows from the construction so far described that the adjustable back 8 will normally be held iii a verticalv position and hence said adjustable back may be moved rearward on the rod 10 whenever the occupant of the chair leans against the back 8, the latter being so arranged that if the occupant desires it can go back to a horizontal position. back to any position to which the occupant may desire to use it, I provide a ratchet wheel 24 which is fixed to and moves with the rod or shaft 16 and the gear 14. A pivoted pawl 26 is employed to normally engage the teeth of this wheel, so that when said pawl is engaging the ratchet wheel, the back is held in the fixed position and will support the user no matter how much pressure is placed thereon. But in order to release the ratchet wheel, I connect the pawl 26 with a lever 28 by means of a link 30. A spring 32 is employed to normally hold the parts in the locked position shown in Fig. 2. Any desired means may be employed under the control of the occupant for depressing the lever 28 in order to move the pawl 26 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 14, but I prefer to use a simple plunger like that illustrated at 34, the upper end of which projects through an opening in one of the arms From the construction described and illustrated, it follows that when an occupant, seated in the seat of the chair, desires to adjust the back 8, all that he has to do is to press his finger upon the plunger 34: when the ratchet wheel 14 will be released and then by leaning on the reclining back 8, it may be moved on its rod or shaft 10 against the tension of the spring 18. When the operator has leaned on the back so as to move it to the desired position, he releases the pressure of his finger on the plunger 34: and then the spring 32 will draw the lever 28 and its pawl 26 upward to engage the ratchet wheel 14 and thereby hold the back in a set position, in just the position the occupant finds himself comfortable.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a reclining chair, the combination of a seat, a back pivotally supported in co- However, in order to hold the ltftti operative relation to said seat and movable to varying positions, a spring for impelling said back forward, a gear movable wlth the back, a second gear meshing with the first mentioned gear and movable with the spring, a ratchet wheel'movable with said gearing, and a pawl under the control of the operator for engaging said ratchet wheel and thereby controlling the position of the back with respect to the chair, substantially as described.

2. In a reclining chair, the combination of a seat, a back pivotally supported in cooperative relatlon to said seat and movable to varying positions, a spring for im elling said back forward, a gear movable w1th the back, a second gear meshing with the first mentioned gear and movable with the spring, a ratchet wheel movable with said gearing, a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel and thereby controlling the position of the back with respect to the chair, and a plunger tor o ieiriating said pawl, substantially as descn a r 3. In a reclining cha r, the combination of a seat, a back pivotallyi supported in (:0-

mentioned gear and movable with the spring, a ratchet wheel movable with said gearing, a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel and thereby controlling the position of the back with respect to the chair, a spring actuated lever for holding said awl in engagement with said ratchet whee and a plunger under the control of the occupant for moving said lever and pawl, substantially as described.

, In testimon whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence 0 two wltnesses.

ANDREW J. PHILLIPS. 

